A.TRAVELING TO LATVIA - VISA REQUIREMENTS
U.S. citizens and passport holders do not need a visa to enter Latvia (as a tourist, for maximum of 90 days within a 6 month period).
Citizens from E.U. members states, as well as Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, and Brazil, do not need a visa to visit Latvia. Click here to see a full list of countries whose citizens may enter Latvia without a visa.
Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China and other countries, not included on the visa-free list, require a visa to travel to Latvia
The Consulate of Latvia in Vermont does not issue any visas (or passports).
All visa applications must be made either through the Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C., or via their service partner, VFS Global.
All applications require the following:
valid travel document which has been issued within the previous 10 years, contains at least two blank pages for visas and is valid at least 3 months after the expiration date of the visa;
a completed and signed ONLINE APPLICATION FORM - click here to complete. The computer completed application form has to be printed out, signed (at the end of the application form) and submitted to the Embassy. In case several persons (minors or a spouse) are covered by the same travel document, individual application forms must be filled in and signed by the persons concerned; in case of minors must be signed by the parental authority or the legal guardian. A minor at least 15 years old may file and sign the visa application themselves;
1 passport-size recent (not older than 6 months) color photo (35mm x 45mm) with a light background, including the entire face, without head-dress. Requirements for the quality of the passport photo can be found here;
an insurance policy valid in Schengen countries with a coverage of at least 50.000 USD for the entire duration of stay in Schengen area. Please note that the insurance policy should cover medical, hospital and repatriation costs. Further information regarding insurance policy can be found here;
payment – the application fee is 90 EUR (for children between 6 and 12 years of age - 45 EUR). For the citizens of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Moldova and Ukraine the fee is 35 EUR. Information on visa fee waiver policy can be found here.
If applying at the VFS Center – the fee is payable at the VFS Center;
If applying by mail – after receiving the documents at the Embassy, the payment link will be sent to your indicated e-mail.
If applying at the Embassy – the fee is payable at the Embassy by a bank card.
Supporting documents:
proof of legal residence in the USA. Original of valid US alien registration card (permanent residence permit, green card) or valid US resident visa. The US residence permit or visa should be valid at least three months beyond the intended departure from the territory of the Schengen Member States. Holders of B1/B2 visa must apply for a Schengen visa in their country of origin or permanent residence.
proof of purpose of entry:
o Family/friends/private visit - Invitation approved by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, see link;
o Business/Conference - Invitation approved by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, see link;
o Tourism
--> Complete travel itinerary (round trip tickets from the USA – flight reservation on with booking reference number with applicant’s name and clear details of travel dates and flight numbers and also other transportation details (bus tickets, rental car details) when travelling from one country to another within the Schengen area.
--> Confirmed hotel reservation with address and telephone matching with flight dates. If you are planning several visits or visit other Schengen countries hotel bookings must be produced for all visits.
--> If the trip is arranged by a tour operator, booking of the trip and itinerary with specifying hotels, dates and contact details.
Please note that Latvia must be the main destination of your trip (the country where you will be spending the most number of days).
if traveling on business of a private visit – proof of accommodation (hotel reservation or an invitation approved by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs if staying with the inviting party);
if traveling on business or a private visit – means of transportation (round trip ticket or ticket reservation with applicant’s name and clear details of travel dates and flight numbers);
sufficient means of subsistence for the duration of the intended stay (records of bank account transactions in the past 3 months; credit card together with turnover printouts; letter from employer regarding salary);
for students F-1 visa holders – a copy of proof of enrollment F1 (form I-20).
for the citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus completed questionnaire must be attached.
Provision of biometric data (fingerprints) when applying for a visa
When applying for a Schengen visa, the applicants are required to provide their biometric data (fingerprints). If the applicant’s biometric data have already been collected by a diplomatic/consular mission of a Schengen state during the past five years, there is no need to provide them again.
Note, visa applications must be made at least 15 days before the travel date to Latvia and no earlier than 6 months prior to travel to Latvia.
More information: click here.
If you require a student visa, long-term resident’s permit or work visa, or other visa not related to a short-term stay in Latvia, then all these applications are handled by the Consular Section of the Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C. Visit their website for more information - click here.
If you wish to apply for a passport, citizenship, and or have any related legal question or need for an official document from Latvia, these matters are handled by the Consular section of the Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C (click here for more details). Although we are happy to provide you with advice over the phone or by email, unfortunately, the Consulate in Vermont does not deal with such administrative matters and applications.
Embassy of Latvia to the USA also co-operates with VFS Services (USA) Inc. on visa applications. Foreigners applying for Schengen visas are be able to submit their visa applications to any of the six VFS Services centers located in Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Additional information is available here: https://www.vfsglobal.com/latvia/usa/
If you reside on the West Coast of the U.S., then under a co-operation agreement with Poland, you can apply for a Schengen Visa to travel to Latvia via the Consulate General of Poland in Los Angeles. For more information, please click here. All other application requests for a visa should be made directly to the Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C.
Entry into Latvia - requirements for travelers from the United States - FAQ
U.S. citizens do not need a visa to travel to Latvia up to 90 days in a half a year, counting from the first day of entry. In order to travel to Latvia, U.S. citizens are required to hold a valid U.S. citizen passport with a term validity that exceeds the intended period of stay in Latvia by at least three months and a valid health insurance policy for international travel.
Health insurance is required to enter Latvia: to enter any Schengen State country in Europe, travelers need to have standard travel medical insurance that covers medical emergencies up to USD 50,000 (per person). This can be purchased online from a large number of travel insurance providers. If you do not have medical insurance whilst traveling in Latvia you will be at risk of paying for your medical expenses if, by any chance, you have an accident or become ill.
U.S. permanent residents ("Green Card" holders) need a Schengen visa to enter Latvia unless they are citizens of countries whose citizens do not need a visa, and hold a valid passport of that country. An updated list of countries whose citizens do not need a visa to enter Latvia can be found on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website - click here.
Applying to stay in Latvia for more than 90 days at a time
To remain in Latvia for more than 90 days, or to work, study or reside in Latvia, as a self-employed person, a U.S. citizen is required to obtain a temporary residence permit. Please visit the website of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs or the Embassy’s website for more information on what is required to apply - click here.
The Latvian Embassy in Washington D.C. is happy to answer questions regarding these types of visa applications and assist you with your application. Please email them at: consulate.usa @ mfa.gov.lv
I would like to work in Latvia as a foreigner - how can I do this?
Foreigners wishing to work in Latvia must have a visa and proper immigration status. You cannot work if you are in Latvia on a tourist visa. For more information about work visas, please visit the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
if you need a Schengen visa for entry into latvia - FAQ
If your passport requires a visa for travel to Latvia and you are traveling as a tourist, you are issued a Schengen visa which is valid for staying in Latvia as well as in the other Schengen Area member states. Passport control on the border is only done once the person crosses into the Schengen Area. If a person has been issued a visa for a short-stay visit to a Schengen country, the maximum duration of the intended stay is 90 days within a 180-day period. If a person needs to stay in Latvia for longer than 90 days, he or she has to apply for a long-stay visa or a residence permit.
If you wish to visit several Schengen countries, you do not have to apply for a visa in each of the given Schengen country’s diplomatic missions. An application for a visa has to be submitted only to the mission of that country that is your main destination. If there is no main destination, you have to turn to a mission of the country whose external border will be the first to be crossed in order to enter the Schengen Area.
If a third-country national needs to enter a Schengen member state but there are circumstances forbidding him to have a uniform visa valid in all Schengen member states, he or she may be granted a visa with a limited territorial validity. It means that visa is not valid for entering all Schengen member states, but only those indicated on the visa.
Collecting biometrics - VIS - Visa Information System
The Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C. and other Schengen State’s embassies and consulates in the U.S. implemented the Visa Information System (VIS).
The VIS is a system for the exchange of visa data among Schengen Member States. These States share a common area of free movement without internal border controls. They have a common visa policy which includes exchanging information on visa applicants.
The visa applicant's bio-metric data (10-digit finger scans and digital photograph) is collected. It is a simple and discreet procedure that only takes a few minutes. Bio-metric data, along with the data provided in the visa application form, is recorded in a secure central database.
10-digit finger scans are neither required from children under the age of 12 nor from people who cannot physically provide finger scans.
Frequent travelers to the Schengen Area do not have to give new finger scans every time they apply for a new visa. Once finger scans are stored in the VIS, they can be re-used for further visa applications over a 5-year period.
What does this mean to you if you are applying for a visa to enter Latvia?
If you have never had your bio-metrics (fingerprints) taken at a Schengen State embassy or consulate for a visa to travel to Europe/Latvia, you will need to make an appointment. If you reside on the West Coast, you can now do this via the Consulate General of Poland in Los Angeles. All other applicants will need to contact the Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C., and go there for your visa application appointment. All visa applicants will have to appear in person when lodging the application, in order to provide their fingerprints. You cannot apply by mail for a visa. Nor, unfortunately, can you do this via the Consulate of Latvia in Vermont.
An appointment normally takes 7 days to schedule. But you can requested expedited service for an additional fee. After your appointment, the visa will be sent back to you by mail or FedEx, and this take about 10 days. An expedited service can also be arranged if required.
If you have had your bio-metrics taken at a Schengen State embassy/consulate for a visa to travel to Europe/Latvia in the past 5 years, you only need to send your application and passport to the Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C. in order to receive your new visa.
You can find all application documents for a Schengen visa on the Embassy of Latvia's website, in the Consular information section.
As reminder, you need to apply for a Schengen visa if a) your are not a U.S. passport holder and do not hold a passport of a country that does not require a Schengen visa (see list here); b) Latvia is your primary destination in Europe; b) Latvia is your only destination in Europe; or, c) you have a number of destinations in Europe, but your first port of entry is Latvia.
No border controls for traveling in the Schengen Area
Latvia is part of the Schengen Area. The Schengen agreement allows for passport-free travel across 26 nations in Europe. Those travelers requiring a visa for Latvia require a Schengen visa. A valid Schengen visa is valid for entry into the territory of Latvia.
There are no border controls on the internal borders between Schengen countries, therefore citizens of the European Union and third-country nationals are free to travel within the Schengen Area. If you arrive in Latvia by car or bus from Lithuania or Estonia, or if you travel by ferry or plane from the Schengen countries, you will not have to go through border controls. However, if emergency situations should arise, Schengen member states do have the capacity to temporarily reintroduce border controls for a certain period of time. So please check on such information and verify the conditions and circumstances before beginning your trip.
While under normal conditions, there are indeed no border controls, this does not mean you can leave your travel document behind. While traveling in the Schengen Area, you must have your passport along, and it is this document that can be used as proof of your identity. Bear in mind that drivers’ licenses and bankcards are not deemed to be valid travel documents and such documents are also not considered valid for purposes of personal identification.
Customs procedures - what you need to know regarding entry into Latvia
Travelers in the European Union need to take into consideration that there are maximum amount restrictions on several kinds of goods that may be brought into a European Union member state – tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, coffee, and fuel. Should the maximum limit be exceeded, the goods have to be declared and the applicable excise tax on the goods exceeding the specified limit must be paid.
If you are traveling to the European Union from a third country, different restrictions apply. Persons arriving in the European Union, including in Latvia, have to observe stringent rules concerning food products that they may carry. Meat and meat products, milk and dairy products may not be brought into the European Union for one’s own consumption.
Traveling via Riga, in transit, to another final destination - do I need a Transit Visa ?
If you are flying via Riga to another country, changing planes at Riga airport and Riga is your first entry point in Europe, you do not need a Transit Visa for Latvia. However, if you are flying via Riga to another country, changing planes at Riga airport, and Riga is not your first entry point in Europe (e.g. you are flying first to Denmark or Sweden or Germany, then via Riga to another country), you will need a Schengen zone Transit Visa for Latvia. This Transit Visa can be obtained from the Latvian Embassy in Washington D.C..
Please note, if your passport requires a visa for entry into Latvia or you are transiting via Riga to another country and Riga is your second entry point to Europe, and your point of departure is the United States, then if you do not have a valid visa you risk not being allowed to board your flight here in the United States.
Transit Visas: these must be applied for before you travel to Latvia - they cannot be issued upon arrival in Latvia.
U.S. Visa - for travelers to the United States from Latvia
As of November 17, 2008, when going on a short leisure or business trip to the USA, Latvian citizens can now travel to the U.S. under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP). However, all individuals having different purpose of travel than aforementioned are required to obtain an appropriate U.S. visa.
Latvian citizens who have valid tourist/business visas may continue traveling with their visas if they choose so. No additional/new requirements for travelers with visas apply.
Please consult the page “Travel without a visa” for information on requirements for traveling under the VWP.
Latvian non-citizens are always required to obtain a U.S. visa for any purpose of travel.
Please note: Travelers who hold dual citizenship with the United States must enter and depart the United States on U.S. passports.
Please visit the U.S. Embassy website in Riga for more details - click here.
Updated travel information and alerts from the Consular Department in Riga - click on the image above
Mobile Passport Station visits
The mobile passport station visits selected major U.S. cities once a year, including New York and Boston.
More information on upcoming visits and cities can be found here.
Did you know you can apply for a Schengen Visa via VFS Global? They are processing applications on behalf of the Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C..
For more information, click here.
